Diocesan Museum Lecce

In the splendid baroque Palazzo del Seminario right on the Piazza del Duomo of Lecce is the sacred art museum of the Lecce Diocese. The building alone is worth the entrance fee, but the collection of art will really make it worthwhile. Built over the course of the late 1600s, it was inaugurated in 1709. Today, it houses the museum, along with the archives and library of the diocese of Lecce.

Inside you will find grand salons filled with artwork from around the Salento. The paintings are mostly in baroque style, as is Lecce itself, and some of the works are truly superb. Some highlights include Rest on the Flight to Egypt, Abraham with Three Angels, and Hagar and Ishmael, a theme rarely seen in Catholic iconography. There are also ceremonial items, chalices and an array of intricately-stitched vestments.

Don't miss the peaceful and beautiful cloister with its wonderful well in the middle, carved, like everything else in Lecce, in delightful fashion.

HOURS: Open from 9:30 AM til 12:30 PM daily; last admission one hour prior to closing. Closed Sunday.